When she met Mr. Gangster(COMPLETED)

Chapter 14

Magkaharap kami ni Job sa restaurant. Ako umiinom ng juice gamit ang straw at siya naman kinakatok ang mesa nang pauli-ulit para lang may tunog at hindi purong katahimikan lang ang nakabalot sa amin. Nararamdaman ko ang kaba niya dahil siya hindi makatingin sa akin. 

"Magtitinginan nalang ba tayo hanggang sa mabulok tayo dito Job?"

"Does this mean you're interested in me?" Ano daw?

"I'm here because you know I'm already dying to know what's happening." 

"Okay. I understand. So, here it goes. Uhm-" Huminga siya ng malalim na parang sisisid sa tubig. "Josh and I are half brothers, anak ako sa labas." Pinigilan ko ang sarili kong sabihin ang "OMG" dahil hindi bagay sa sitwasyon. Alam kong lumaki ang mata ko. "He never accepted me as his brother." 

"Is that why you two are bickering so much?"

"That's one of the reasons. Another is because he thinks I'm the favored one. Kaya lang naman ako favored kasi sumusunod ako kay Papa. Pero hindi niya alam, never naman akong na-consider para magmana ng mga yaman nila. Si Joshua pa rin. And I never wanted to claim their wealth, I just want to finish college and have my own life."

"But from the looks of it you're really helping him to rebuild his name. Hindi niya ba na-appreciate 'yon?"

"I actually don't know. He sucks at expressing himself you know. His requests look like orders and his thanks look like  an insult. He's often misunderstood that's why you need years of training for you to understand him. He doesn't even understand his own self."

"So 'yun lang? Dahil doon magkaaway na kayo? Napakababaw naman non."

"There's one more thing." Huminga siya ng malalim. "We loved the same girl.", sabi niya. 

"What? Him?"

"Two years ago, her name is Kaye. "

"Where is she? Nandito ba siya sa school?" Umiling siya at lumungkot ang mukha. "Why?"

"She died, hit and run." 

"Oh my god." Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili kong mag hysterical reaction. "What happened?"

"Police said it was an accident, but we Slayers don't believe it. Two years ago, we were just new members. Kaye accidentally found out something she shouldn't have, she called me before the accident but I didn't answer it."

"Why?"

"She cheated on me with Joshua."

"What the hell?! Okay, now I understand. Ano 'to, K drama?"

"You think so? And he's blaming me for not answering the call. Slayers, both present members and alums didn't pursue the investigation kahit may konting chance na hindi 'yun aksidente. The officers and the alums at that time were afraid that the underground operations might be exposed. Since umamin naman na 'yung driver na lasing siya at natakot lang siya, case closed."

"So that made a huge dent on your relationship."

"That ruined the chance of us to be like brothers, maybe forever. I'm already okay with it, that's how much I loved Kaye. Para sa katahimikan niya. Pero ayaw makipag-reconcile ni Josh sa akin."

Hindi pala simpleng sorry lang etong kaso nilang dalawa. It's much deeper than I thought. 

"If you don't mind asking, paano kayo nasali sa WS?", tanong ko. 

"I joined first and he joined after me. Back then all were dying to join WS because it was featured in a short documentary. It featured meetings, activities like assisting VIPs, ushers on festivals, stuntmen, and many other fun stuff the slayers do. But it never mentioned the other dangerous activities that we have."

"Why do you think Joshua chose me kahit na hindi ako kasali, isn't that heightening the risk of you guys being exposed?"

"Thinking about it, maybe Joshua chose you because you don't mean anything to him.", sabi niya. Oo, make sense but a little evil. Para ba kung may mangyari sa akin di siya maaapektuhan? "Did I answer all of your questions?"

"Why like me all of a sudden? You don't know me that much."

"Let me not explain it you but show it instead.", sabi niya. Sumandal ako sa upuan. "Okay?"

"Bahala ka." Natapos ang usapan namin at hindi ko na siya hinayaang ihatid ako. Natulog ako na 'yung kwento niya ang nasa isip ko. This is messier than I thought. 

Pumasok ako kinabuksan na lutang, hindi ako nakatulog ng maayos. Nakita ko sa gilid si Zed at si Job nag-uusap ng seryoso. Lalapit na sana ako pero naghiwalay na sila. Hindi naman 'to magkakilalang dalawa.

"Cassie, kaibigan mo ba si Zed?"

"Oo, siya 'yung unang ka-course ko na nakilala ko bakit?"

"May gusto sayo." Tumawa ako. Yon? Halos hindi nga kami nag-uusap eh.

"Ha? Okay ka lang? Bihira nga kami mag-usap eh.", sabi ko.

"Kaya nga, parang kilalang kilala ka niya eh. Layuan mo muna siya."

"Wait what? Excuse me ha, you have no right to tell me that."

"I'm sorry, there's something weird about him."

"You're weird. Baka crush lang ako ng tao, ganda ko kaya.", sabi ko at hinawi ang invisible bangs ko. Tumawa siya at ginulo ang buhok ko. 

"Oo na. San klase mo, hatid na kita."

"Diyan lang, aakyat lang ako ng hagdan. Huwag na, baka isipin pa nila boyfriend kita.", sabi ko kay Job. Naghiwalay na kami at umakyat na ako papuntang classroom. Nagulat ako nang nasa labas ng pinto, nakasandal si Joshua. Iniayos niya ang tayo nang makita ako. 

"Why are you here?", tanong ko. 

"Dinner, tomorrow with my Dad will pick you up here at 6 pm." 

"My class ends at 3 pm."

"Pumunta ka nalang sa tambayan.", sabi niya. "Yun lang, bye." 

"Yun lang? Tinext mo nalang sana."

"May dinaanan din ako dito, hindi kita pinuntahan, don't flatter yourself." Inirapan ko siya at pumasok na ng classroom. Lumapit sa akin si Zed, naalala ko bigla 'yung sinabi ni Job. Maliban sa awkward conversations namin ni Zed, wala namang kakaiba kasi awkward naman siya sa lahat. Maybe Job's just over reacting.

"Cassie, bakit nandito si DS? Inaano ka niya?" 

"Wala, may tinanong lang siyang directions."

"Ganon ba? Kanina pa 'yan nandiyan eh, may hinihintay.", sabi niya. Nagkibit-balikat nalang ako at bumalik na siya sa upuan niya. 

Dinner with his father? How will I suppose to act around?